Acoustic cover of “Tomorrow Never Knows,” from Bruce Springsteen’s Working On A Dream album (2009).
** EDITOR’S NOTE: **
Tonight, I’m happy to add another cover song from Federico. This time around, he’s picked a beautiful little gem from Bruce Springsteen’s latest album. “Tomorrow Never Knows” may conjure memories of the classic Beatles tune of the same name, but it’s an entirely different track, believe me. If you’ve heard the original, then you know that this is an excellent choice for an acoustic cover song.
We hope you enjoy Federico’s Guest Session — leave comments, submit a session of your own (click on “The Guest Sessions in the weekly calendar above), or simply kick back and listen!
G
Out here the nights are long, the days are lonely.
I think of you, and I’m working on a
D
dream…
I’m working on a
G
dream.
The cards I’ve drawn’s a rough hand, darlin’ —
I straighten my back, and I’m working on a dream…
I’m working on a dream.
G C G
I’m working on a dream, though it feels so far away.
G C D
I’m working on a dream, and I know it will be mine some day.
Rain pourin’ down, I swing my hammer.
My hands are rough from working on a dream…
I’m working on a dream.
I’m working on a dream, though trouble can feel like it’s here to stay.
I’m working on a dream; our love will chase the trouble away.
I’m working on a dream, though it can feel so far away.
I’m working on a dream, and our love will make it real some day.
Sunrise come, I climb the ladder.
The new day breaks, and I’m working on a dream…
I’m working on a dream.
I’m working on a dream…
I’m working on a dream.
I’m working on a dream, though it can feel so far away.
I’m working on a dream, and our love will make it real some day.
I’m working on a dream, though it can feel so far away.
I’m working on a dream, and our love will make it real some day.
** These chords and lyrics are interpretations and transcriptions, respectively, and are the sole property of the copyright holder(s). They are posted on this website free of charge for no profit for the purpose of study and commentary, as allowed for under the “fair use” provision of U.S. copyright law, and should only be used for such personal and/or academic work. **
Top Two Tracks: “We Take Care of Our Own” & “This Depression”
Diverging from the string of excellent albums Springsteen has been releasing steadily since his return from a seven year hiatus (with 2002’s The Rising), Wrecking Ball comes across as a bunt where his past several albums have felt more like full-force swings aimed at the fences. It’s not so much that this is a bad album: it is, just as disappointingly, a mediocre album. Most songs fall into one beat from the opening bars on, often establishing a chorus line that becomes the repetitive chant throughout. There are standouts, such as the album opener “We Take Care of Our Own” and “This Depression.” And, of course, the tone and textures of Springsteen’s Americana sound are impressively rendered, incorporating acoustic and electric elements intermittently, as well as choir-style background singers (see: “Shackled and Drawn” to begin with) and other cultural textures (see: Death to My Hometown, itself perhaps a frown of an update to his 1985 hit “My Hometown,” then the seventh top ten hit off Born in the U.S.A.). Still, these elements are not enough to lift Wrecking Ball into any real sense of artistic accomplishment, nor does it live up to the rock music energy and promise of the Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band performance of “We Take Care of Our Own” at the Grammys earlier this year.
Port of Morrow (The Shins)
Producer: Greg Kurstin & James Mercer
Released: March 20, 2012
Rating: 4 / 5 stars
Top Two Tracks: “Simple Song” & “No Way Down”
Fresh off his 2010 collaboration with Danger Mouse as the indie duo Broken Bells, James Mercer returns with the Shins to deliver an alt pop/rock punch in Port of Morrow. From the fast-paced opener “Rifle’s Spiral” to the lead single and album standout “Simple Song,” through three more excellent though more understated tracks, to the second standout “No Way Down” (which, unlike “Simple Song,” requires little warm-up to get up to full speed), and up to the subsequent ballad “For A Fool” and then the quirky, sonically unique “Fall of ’82,” finally arriving at the penultimate “40 Mark Strasse,” there isn’t a clunker in the set. The final track feels, like so many title tracks throughout history, like a bonus track or a tack-on rather than a full member of the record. The Shins are certainly guilty of finding a sound and falling into it, destined to draw claims of “the Shins are a good song,” and yet when you like the sound – as I certainly do – it’s difficult to criticize the nine tracks of gorgeous, bright, modern alt rock music that await you on Port of Morrow.
Hello and welcome to a brand-new week of cover song music videos here at your source for the best of the best — the Laptop Sessions!
But, as much as we like to brag, we really are trying every day to fill this site with a ridiculous number of cover song material — our daily video posts, chords/tabs to your favorite songs, and much more. We even sneak in a Fusco, Moore, and/or Copperthite original every Wednesday or so…
For today, I’m skimming off the top of the new music / new album current events pool. Tomorrow is the official US release date of Bruce Springsteen’s 16th studio album. It’s been less than two years since number 15, so this is exciting news! I think his previous album, Magic, was one of the best albums of 2007 and certainly my favorite Springsteen album to date. Now, to be fair, I’ve only listened to his more recent albums, so I reserve my right to change my mind sometime down the line…
But, back to the present. His new album, Working on a Dream, is coming out amidst a whole lot of Springsteen mania. For one, there’s his upcoming appearance during the half time show of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009. Following in the footsteps of such classic acts as Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones (who were also called out ostensibly to prevent any potential wardrobe malfunctions that may befall a younger, female act!), Springsteen’s album sales are expected to rise directly following the show. This is opportune timing, then. Also, two months ago, he released a greatest hits album exclusively at Wal-Mart. Now, I must admit that I was aggravated when I heard this in the news. After all, Springsteen is famous and much-respected for his disavowal of corporate sponsorships or endorsements.
Then, as I read some more of the article about this, I realized that it makes perfect sense. First of all, there’s the statistic that (reportedly) 15% of his recent CD sales have come from Wal-Mart. Also, there’s the whole Super Bowl business. I have to admit I can’t blame him and/or his people for pushing a greatest hits out now. I’m typically disgusted by these sorts of 12-track, almost-all-repeat-tracks-from-his-previous-greatest-hits sorts of releases. And yet, this is what people will be looking for! So, as Ben Folds might sing — “You’ve got to give the people what they want!”
Also, the disc is only $9.99, and it’s a limited release item (not part of his official catalog).
I find this stuff fascinating…
But, to come back to tonight’s video, let me explain why I’ve recorded “The Wrestler.” This is the title track to the film starring Mickey Rourke that has gained the spotlight during various recent award shows. I have yet to see the film, but I had heard that this track would be a bonus song on the new album. Thus, I set out to learn it, loved it, and had to record it. For those of you listening to this song now for the first time, I hope you’ll like my version and want to hear the real one.
I can’t actually vouch for the new album, as I have yet to hear anything other than the song titles from the track listing. However, I am ecstatic for this, the first new music release of 2009 that I’m really excited for. I’ll be out during lunchtime tomorrow or as soon as I get out of work to get it. And, who knows, I may just push myself to write a review tomorrow night.
Crazy? I know, but that’s what this whole Laptop Sessions thang is all about!
Oh, and before I forget, don’t miss the chords that I just posted a few hours ago here on the site. Now you can listen AND learn to play the song yourself!
Okay, I’m off to snuggle up with a couple of my dearest friends — one, the Fusco-Moore Experience copy of the latest Rolling Stone (complete with Bruce Springsteen, aka The Boss, on the cover — predictable? I know, but I couldn’t care less!) and my stack of midterm exams that are ripe for the grading…
